Consider the following Statements regardingShaheen 3 Missile
It is a nuclear-capable surface-to-surface ballistic missile.
It can carry out strike targets up to 2,750 kilometres.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Explanation:
In NEWS:Pakistan has successfully test fired the Shaheen 3 Missile.
About Shaheen 3 Missile
- It is a nuclear-capable surface-to-surface ballistic missile.Hence statement 1 is correct
- It can carry out strike targets up to 2,750 kilometres.Hence statement 2 is correct
- It is the longest-range missile to have been developed in the country.
- It is capable of reaching the farthest point in India’s northeast and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- It is solid-fuelled and equipped with Post-Separation Altitude Correction (PSAC) system.
- The ‘successful’ launch of Shaheen-III missile was “aimed at revalidating various design and technical parameters of the weapon system”.
Source: TH
Consider the following Statements regardingShramshakti Digital Data Solution
It is a National Migration Support Portal for migrant workers
It has launched by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Explanation:
In NEWS:Ministry of Tribal Affairs Virtually Launches “Shramshakti” Digital Data Solution for Migrant Workers
- The Union Minister of Tribal Affairs virtually through Video Conference launched “ShramShakti”, a National Migration Support Portal at a programme held at Panjim, Goa.Hence statement 1 is correct and statement 2 is correct
- It would effectively help in the smooth formulation of state and national level programs for migrant workers. He also launched a tribal migration cell, a tribal museum at Goa and “ShramSaathi”, a training manual for migrant workers.
- Shram Shakti would be able to successful able to address the data gap and empower migrant workers who generally migrate in search of employment and income generation. It would also help the government for linking the migrant population with existing Welfare Scheme- under AtamNirbhar Bharat.
- The Chief Minister of Goa will also launch dedicated Migration cell in Goa on order to facilitate and support approximately 4 lakh migrants who come from different States to Goa.
- The MoTA has also sanctioned Tribal research Institute, Tribal Museum, Van DhanKendras and Tribal LokUtsav in Goa.
Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1691237
Consider the following Statements regardingIndia Science
It is an Internet-based science Over-The-Top (OTT) TV channel
It is an initiative of the NITI AAYOG.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a) 1 only
Explanation:
In NEWS:Second Anniversary of India Science, Nation’s OTT Channel
- India Science, Nation’s Science & Technology OTT (Over-the-top) channel has completed its second year of existence successfully on January 15th, 2021. Managed by Vigyan Prasar, an autonomous organization of the Department of Science & Technology, this channel was formally launched on January 15, 2019.Hence statement 1 is correct and statement 2 is correct
- Aims to create scientific awareness & temper amongst the citizens of the country through the latest technology prevalent today
- This 24×7 video platform is dedicated to science and technology knowledge dissemination, with a strong commitment to spreading scientific awareness especially with Indian perspectives, ethos and cultural milieu. The initiative is supported by the National Council of Science and Technology Communication
- India Science will cover the entire landscape of Science & Technology including Engineering, Health and Medicine, Natural Science, Environment and Wildlife, Children’s Curiosity, Science and Society, Agriculture, Innovations, Scientific Heritage, Science Policy using interactive and latest formats like Documentaries, Discussion, Demonstrations/Experiment Shows, Quizzes, Game shows, Science Fiction, Docu-Dramas, Specials, Biographies. India Science will mainly focus on India’s contribution to science and technology and will also cover the latest S&T developments from all around the world.
Source: https://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1683320
Consider the following Statements regarding Exercise Kavach
It is being conducted under the aegis of the Andaman and Nicobar Command
It is the India’s only Joint Militaryexercise between Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force and Indian Coast Guard
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Explanation:
In NEWS:Training for Joint Operation in Andaman Sea: Exercise Kavach
- A large scale Joint Militaryexercise ‘Exercise Kavach’ involving assets ofIndian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force and Indian Coast Guard is being conducted in the coming week under the aegis of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC), the only Joint Forces Command of the Hence statement 1 is correct and statement 2 is correct
- The exercise involves synergized application of maritime surveillance assets, coordinated air and maritime strikes, air defence, submarine and landing operations.
- The ISR exercise will validate the capabilities of intelligence gathering from space, air, land and sea-based assets/ sensors, its analysis and sharing to achieve battle field transparency for quick decision making at different stages of operations.
- The tri-services exerciseaims to fine tune joint war-fighting capabilities and SOPs towards enhancing operational synergy.
- The joint force would execute multi domain, high intensity offensive and defensive manoeuvres in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal and carry out amphibious landingoperations
Source: https://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1683320
Consider the following pairs
Indigenous martial art forms State
- Gatka Punjab
- Thang-ta Manipur
- Mallakhamb Madhya pradesh
Select the correct options from the given below codes
- 1 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 2 only
- 1,2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1,2 and 3
Explanation:
In NEWS:Manipur’s martial art form ‘Thang-Ta’ to feature at Khelo India 2021
- In a recent move, the Sports Ministry inducted four indigenous martial art forms — Kalaripayattu of Kerala, Mallakhamb of Central India, Gatka of Punjab and Thang-ta of Manipur — into the Khelo India Youth Games. Hence option (d) is correct
Gatka:
- It is a style of fighting with wooden sticks that originated in Punjab in the 15th Century.
- The bana and chola are worn for ritualistic performances but when performed as a sport, the practitioner wears track pants and T-shirt, and the stick is no longer the size of a man.
Kalaripayattu:
- It is a Martial art which originated as a style in Kerala during 3nd century BC to the 2nd century AD.
- The word kalari first appears in Sangam literature to describe both a battlefield and combat arena.
- It is also considered to be one of the oldest fighting system in existence.
Mallakhamb
- Mallakhamb is one of the few games that is played against gravity.
- It functions on a synergy of mind and body, employing every muscle in a way that enables a person to develop speed, stamina and better health.
- The origin of this ancient Indian sport can be traced to earlier part of the 12th century.
- A mention of wrestlers exercising on wooden poles is found in the Manasholas, written by Chalukya, in 1153 AD
- Madhya Pradesh declared Mallakhamb the State sport only in 2013, it had been developed as a competitive sport since 1981
Thang Ta:
- It is a Manipuri art form.
- It combines ritual, demonstration and combat and involves a variety of dance forms and warrior drills.
Consider the following Statements regardingSAAW
- It is India’s first indigenous anti-airfield weapon that has been designed and developed by DRDO
- It is an aircraft-launched and advanced precision strike weapon of 125 kg category used to attack and destroy enemy airfield assetswithin a range of 100 km.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Explanation:
In NEWS: Maiden test of Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon from Hawk-i aircraft successful
- The indigenously developed SAAW was the first stand-off smart weapon to be fired from Hawk-Mk132 aircraft built by the State-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
- The SAAW is India’s first indigenous anti-airfield weapon that has been designed and developed by DRDO. Hence statement 1 is correct
- It is an aircraft-launched and advanced precision strike weapon of 125 kg category used to attack and destroy enemy airfield assets such as radars, bunkers, taxi tracks and runways within a range of 100 km.Hence statement 2 is correct
- The light weight weapon with inertial guidance operates in ‘fire and forget’ principle.
- The high precision guided bomb is light weight as compared to weapon system of the same class. The weapon was earlier successfully test fired from Jaguar aircraft.
Hawk-i aircraft
- The Hawk-i is HAL’s internally funded programme offering the Indian Armed Forces an upgrade and combat capability for the Hawk aircraft, transforming it into an advanced jet trainer providing training on sensors and weapons in peacetime and into a potent combat platform during conflict.
Consider the following Statements regarding Nitrogen-Use Efficiency
It is the fraction of applied nitrogen that is absorbed and used by the plants.
Breeding new crop varieties with high Nitrogen-Use Efficiency is a high priority for both agricultural production and environmental protection.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Explanation:
In NEWS:Indian research can help cut nitrogen fertiliser waste
- A group of Indian scientists have found a way to improve crops by reducing wastage of nitrogen fertilisers applied to them. They were able to identify phenotypes, or visibly identifiable features that determine the efficiency with which cultivated rice varieties (cultivars) use nitrogen.
- This efficiency is known as nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE).
- Nitrogen fertilizer application is a strategic challenge for sustainable agriculture. It plays an indispensable role in increasing crop yields, thus ensuring global food security. However, it creates a severe threat to ecosystems
- Nitrous oxide is a greenhouse gas (GHG) and is 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide. It has replaced methane as the second-largest component of GHG emissions from Indian agriculture in the past 15 years.
- Scientific literature is dominated by developed countries that mostly use ammonium nitrate so there was uncertainty on how to deal with NUE when different forms of nitrogen-fertilisers like urea are used.
- As paddy consumes the most nitrogen fertiliser in India, any improvement in its NUE will be a better position.
- The discovery of the phenotype lays the foundation for crop improvement and also for deeper research on the underlying mechanisms of NUE.
About Nitrogen-Use Efficiency
- NUE is calculated as a ratio between nitrogen used and harvest and a higher number denotes low wastage.
- It is the fraction of applied nitrogen that is absorbed and used by the plant. Hence statement 1 is correct
- Improving a plant’s ability to utilize nitrogen is a key component in enhancing environmental sustainability.
- Improved plant breeding through the use of genetic engineering has the greatest potential to produce plants that will utilize fertilizer more efficiently than conventional varieties.
- Nitrogen-use efficient cultivars tend to germinate and flower slower. Such varieties grow tall and deep, have higher biomass and take longer for harvest but they yield more on relatively less nitrogen.
- Breeding new crop varieties with high NUE is a high priorityfor both agricultural production and environmental protection.Hence statement 2 is correct
Consider the following Statements regardingNational Centre for Polar and Ocean Research
It is an important R&D institution under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
It is located in Goa.
India launched its first scientific expedition to the Arctic in 2020.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1,2 and 3
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
Explanation:
In NEWS:India proposes to expand research, tourism in the Arctic
- India has unveiled a new draft ‘Arctic’ policy that, among other things, commits to expanding scientific research, “sustainable tourism” and mineral oil and gas exploration in the Arctic region.
- The draft policy is open to public comments until January 26 and has been prepared after deliberations among several Ministries.
- Arctic research will help India’s scientific community to study melting rates of the third pole — the Himalayan glaciers, which are endowed with the largest freshwater reserves in the world outside the geographic poles
- India embarked upon the Arctic research by launching First Indian scientific expedition to Arctic – in the first week of August 2007 using the international research facility at Ny-Alesund in the Spitsbergen Island of Norway.Hence statement 3 is incorrect
- Himadri is India’s first research station in the Arctic.
About National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research
- National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) is India’s premier R&D institution responsible for the country’s research activities in the Polar and Southern Ocean
- Implemented by: Ministry of Earth Sciences. Hence statement 1 is correct
- It is located in India’s most seafaring state of Goa. Hence statement 2 is correct
- The institutional framework of NCPOR is a reflection of its mandated responsibility as the nodal agency for planning, promotion, coordination and execution of the entire gamut of polar and southern ocean scientific research in the country as well as for the associated logistics activities.
The mandate of NCPOR is multi-dimensional:
- Leadership role in niche areas of scientific research in the domain of polar and ocean sciences.
- Lead role in the geoscientific surveys of the country’s EEZ and its extended continental shelf beyond 200M, deep-sea drilling in the Arabian Sea basin through the IODP, exploration for ocean non-living resources such as the gas hydrates and multi-metal sulphides in mid-ocean ridges.
- Facilitatory role in the scientific research activities being undertaken by several national institutions and organizations in Antarctica, the Arctic and in the Indian Ocean sector of the Southern Ocean.
- Management role in implementing all scientific and logistics activities related to the Annual Indian Expeditions to the Antarctic, Arctic and Southern Ocean.
- Management and upkeep of the Indian Antarctic Research Bases “Maitri” and “Bharati”, and the Indian Arctic base “Himadri”
Source: TH
Consider the following Statements regarding COVID Vaccine Intelligence Network (CoWIN) system
It is a digitalised platform for the effective national rollout and scaling up of the COVID Vaccine Distribution System.
It is a digital platform launched by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to help agencies keep a track of Covid-19 vaccination and allow Indians to apply for the vaccine.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Explanation:
In NEWS:CoWIN dry run revealed several software glitches
There were at least 13 kinds of glitches that were identify ed during dry runs of the CoWIN vaccine management application.
CoWIN is the backbone of the government’s drive to vaccinate 30 million healthcare workers and frontline beneficiaries inthe first phase.
About CoWIN:
- COVID Vaccine Intelligence Network (CoWIN) system is a digitalised platform to be used to effectively roll out and scale up the mechanism for COVID Vaccine Distribution System, nationally.Hence statement 1 is correct
- It is a digital platform launched by MoHFW to help agencies keep a track of Covid-19 vaccination and allow Indians to apply for the vaccine. Hence statement 2 is correct
- It is a repurposed version of Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN).
- The CoWIN system will be a subset of COVID India Portal which provides end to end management of COVID19.
Source: TH
.The Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of surgarcane is approved by the
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.
Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices.
Directorate of Marketing and Inspection, Ministry of Agriculture
Agricultural Produce Market Committee
Answer: a) Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.
